Egypt's Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly met a World Bank delegation on Tuesday to discuss expanding cooperation in infrastructure, energy, and water, the Cabinet said in a statement. The delegation included Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti; Cheick-Oumar Sylla, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Regional Director North Africa and Horn of Africa; and Almud Weitz, World Bank's Regional Practice Director for Infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa region. Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat also attended. Madbouly said Egypt has invested billions over the past decade in highways, railways, ports, airports, and logistics and industrial zones, and welcomed enhanced collaboration with the World Bank to support ongoing and future infrastructure programmes. "Without robust infrastructure, no progress is possible in other sectors such as industry, energy, and investment," he said, noting the role of the National Narrative for Economic Development in linking modern infrastructure to competitiveness and private sector participation. The prime minister also stressed plans to expand cooperation with the World Bank in renewable energy and water management, including desalination and treatment projects. Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt as one of the largest Middle East and North Africa markets for World Bank support, with projects spanning financial services, infrastructure, industry, energy, and logistics. She said the World Bank's 2023-2027 Country Partnership Framework aligns with Egypt's priorities for inclusive growth, private sector development, human capital, and resilience. Weitz noted her team visited Qena Governorate to inspect infrastructure projects funded under the World Bank's Local Development Programme, praising Egypt's achievements in energy efficiency and infrastructure development. Sylla briefed officials on IFC initiatives, including the management and development of several Egyptian airports. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
